INTRODUCTION. 



SUCCESSFUL farming means more than the growing of 

 heavy crops. The farmer may begin on a fertile farm, and 

 at first get heavy yields of grain, but if he follows this for 

 a series of years, selling the grain and restoring nothing to the 

 soil, his crops must decrease in yield until his lands cease to pay 

 for cultivation. Again, the farmer may be situated at such a 

 distance from market that the expense of delivering his grain 

 will largely reduce the profits. In most localities the farmer 

 will lighten his labor and increase his profits by making promi- 

 nent the rearing and feeding of stock. In addition to this, and 

 what is of greater importance, he will, by this means, be ena- 

 bled to keep his land at a maximum degree of fertility. 



No branch of farming requires greater intelligence or more 

 careful study than the breeding and handling of stock. The 

 fact that the farmer keeps on his farm stock enough to con- 

 sume its products, does not, of itself, prove that he is making 

 it profitable. Many questions are involved in the business of 

 stock growing, with which we must be familiar before we can 

 tell whether the farmer is making or losing money by it. The 

 intelligent farmer should understand the various purposes for 

 which he keeps stock, and should see that that which he keeps is 

 adapted to the purpose intended. For example : The horse and 

 mule are kept to furnish power, while the other domestic ani- 

 mals furnish food and clothing, and all furnish valuable fertilizers. 



To make the greatest profit from stock requires attention to 

 several points: 1st. The stock must be suited to the farm. 

 2d. The amount kept must correspond to the size of the farm. 

 3d. The stock of all kinds must be good, and there must be a 



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